In Vedic cultures, we say everyone has to and is accepting an authority of some kind , no-one is absent of authority..The question arising is who is your authority and why , and importantly who are their authority .These far-reaching authority structures permeate the whole of societal affairs . The head of the authorities must be properly situated , and Bhagavad Gita sets out clearly their specific behaviour and qualities. Krishna knows the art of spiritual and socio-political sciences, and He Himself works through His agencies as well as clearly defining how everything works. Everything for mankind has been spoken of , there is nothing absent , accept for the willingness to hear ….
AC Bhavtivedanta Swami in conversation….
Prabhupāda: “…so we have got our authority.” I have got my authority, Bhāgavatam, Vedic literature. Why shall I give you better preference, your authority? I have got my authority.”
Svarūpa Dāmodara:” So we’ll explain that there are two types of acquiring knowledge. Two different techniques. Now the scientists are believing their own…”
Prabhupāda:” That is imperfect. Inductive knowledge is always imperfect. Deductive knowledge is perfect if it is taken from authority. Suppose man is mortal. So, the inductive process is that you examine every man, whether he’s mortal or immortal. So suppose you have seen millions of men, and they are all mortal. They die. Then your conclusion is that man is mortal. But I can say you have not seen a man who does not die. I can say that. So, this inductive knowledge will remain always imperfect. It will never be perfect because your examination is limited. So I can say you have not seen the person, man… Suppose if I say, “You have not seen Vyāsadeva, he’s immortal. You have not seen Aśvatthāmā. He’s immortal.” So how can this scientific research be perfect, inductive? It is never perfect. Because you may be missing somebody who is immortal; then your conclusion is wrong. There is no scope to study all the living beings. There is no such scope. You have limited scope. So your seeing power is limited. How can you decide from the limited seeing power?. Suppose man is mortal. So, the inductive process is that you examine every man, whether he’s mortal or immortal. So suppose you have seen millions of men, and they are all mortal. They die. Then your conclusion is that man is mortal. But I can say you have not seen a man who does not die. I can say that. So, this inductive knowledge will remain always imperfect. It will never be perfect because your examination is limited. So I can say you have not seen the person, man… Suppose if I say, “You have not seen Vyāsadeva, he’s immortal. You have not seen Aśvatthāmā. He’s immortal.” So how can this scientific research be perfect, inductive? It is never perfect. Because you may be missing somebody who is immortal; then your conclusion is wrong. There is no scope to study all the living beings. There is no such scope. You have limited scope. So your seeing power is limited. How can you decide from the limited seeing power?”
End ..
No one has monopolies on spiritual life , but one thing is your devotion and devotional activities must please your spiritual teacher or spiritual master , and your spiritual master has to be in a chain of spiritual teachers or masters. Spiritual life has both formalities and eventually when purity comes about , spontaneous love, but nothing independent.
ŚB 1.2.17
śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ
puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ
hṛdy antaḥ stho hy abhadrāṇi
vidhunoti suhṛt satām
Translation
Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramātmā [Supersoul] in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted
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